#quaranstream

~ A huge part of the artists’ profits comes from concerts, then from streaming services and from music publishing/music sales. Due to COVID-19, tours have been cancelled for an indeterminated length of time, cutting the artists from almost a half of their revenues. Therefore, they need to find another way to perform, find another system to survive. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many artists - both large and indie artists - have been performing on virtual concert tours, using any platform that could support it.

We could think that Youtbe is the most popular one, as every artist oalready as a fan-base on it, and they would earn money from ads and views. Less obvious platforms like instagram are in fact well appreciated by large artists (Charli XCX, John Legend, Diplo...) However, most of indie artists seem to be flocking to Twitch: this platfrom ‘is more financially focused’ and offers a variety of sources of revenues as it supports tiers of subscriptions (people can subscribe for free to a channel with their Amazon Prime account) and donations (fans can tip in micro amounts with things like Cheers). To sum-up, Instagram seems to be more focused on reaching lots of people en masse, and Twitch is more suitable for earning money and to create virtual concerts, and therefore better to recoup a fraction of lost funds.  Twitch has another advantage: artists can help each other with two things. Frist, they can send their viewers to another artist’s channel at the end of their stream (’raids’), and second they can set up ‘auto-hosting lists’ which lets other artists stream on their channel while they are not live.This second point allows artists to sort of recreate a real concert: in concert there usually are supports acts which enable less-famous artists to gain in popularity and potentially create a fan-base.

From a fan’s point of view, the connection to their artist is stronger, closer, more intimate as they can comment the stream and talk dirrectly to the artist. They seem less unattainable, more ‘human’ - and less of a super-star they would admire and idealize during concerts For the artist this new kind of concert makes them feel more connected to their fanbase and less alone, standing in front of a mass.

For now, Twitch and virtual concerts are a way to limit the damages and ‘survive’ as they don’t know how long they will not be performing live.  But many are thinking of staying on Twitch after the crisis and it may lead to the development of a new kind of music consumerism. It could also influence Twitch and its ‘rules’ and culture as large artists are making the jump, biringing a built-in audience.

Have you watch one of your favorite artist’s stream? how different is it from concerts? 

See ya!  ~

**Triple post: Isaac’s covid-gate wrap up

“Isaac this post shows that you’re about as much of a Christian as Trump is anti-racist. And it’s Prov. 9:10, not “Prob” “

“You’re more than happy to take fans money for face masks and “Quaranstream” merch though aren’t you? “

A stream doodle for @parziivale for faer donation to a good cause!

Currently working on some Inktober’s, involving some original stuff and fanart, then I may move onto commission work if I have tome. I’m a little slow cuz I’m feeling ill but join me if you fancy watching me sketch for a few hours! I hope the internet doesn’t screw up this time Dx Unfortunately you need an account now to join the chat but if you have one, please do!